Response of Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Associated Oral Plasmablastic Lymphoma to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Without Chemotherapy

Abstract

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a B-cellYderived lymphoma that is described as a subtype of the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, commonly seen in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. The oral cavity is the first site of presentation with local invasion to the palate and the jaw and rapid dissemination to extraoral sites. The characteristic immunophenotype include the presence of plasma cell markers VS38c and CD138. Epstein-Barr virus and human herpes virus type-8 are strongly associated with the pathogenesis of oral PBL.Here, we describe a case of PBL of the oral cavity in a 55-year-old woman who was only treated with HAART and improved with a full remission of the neoplasm, which is probably related with a good control of the immunological and virological status associated with the highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Large abdominal mass as clinical presentation of plasmablastic lymphoma

“…In this study, the use of regimens more intensive than CHOP did not associated with a better survival. Also, a few number of cases has been published with spontaneous remissions of PBL in AIDS patients treated with HAART alone [27,28].…”